My Lips are Sealed

I ran as carefully as I could, the only sound I could hear was the falling rain, my lone footsteps and my panting blows. Clad in my blue weatherproof raincoat, I searched desperately for shelter. The campsite was out of the question because I was on an awfully steep trail and I was afraid I would fall and sprain or break an ankle or leg. Did I fail to mention that I’m all alone?

Using my walking stick, I stepped over a wet rock so I wouldn’t lose my footing and fall. Stopping for a brief second, I looked up from the ground. Almost instantly, I spotted a cave. It was perfect! As I walked to the mouth of the cave, my thoughts floated back to how this all started.

~*~this morning~*~

Waking with a start, I looked at my surroundings. All I saw was the inside of my tent. Sitting upright in my sleeping bag, I reached for my black flashlight and my book. Flicking on the light, I opened my book to where I last left off, settling back down in my sleeping bag. The book was part of a series called "The Royal Diaries". The one I was reading was about an Indian princess named Begum Sahib (meaning 'princess of princesses' in Indian). My eyes traveled down the page, looking for the place I stopped. When I found it, I started to read.

"August 12, 1628

Aba came to visit me today and put in my hand a lovely, tiny diamond. "It is for your nose, Janni," he said softy. I am excited now. I must be getting better. I think having a diamond in my nose might make it easier to flirt. Because if it is as Ami suggested - the way a girl tosses her head and slides her eyes about with a dancing light in them - well, a diamond might add to this - a perfect little diamond flickering on the side of my nostril. But who am I going to flirt with? That is the question. The choices are less that inspiring. My brothers? Panipat, an ancient eunuch? A blind gardener?
Also I am sick to death of pomegranate juice. I care not if I ever see another pomegranate in my life!"

Continuing to the next entry, I could hear people talking outside. I just ignored the voices, for I already knew who was out there. It was probably just Max and Tristan, my classmates. Moments later, I heard my teacher, Shannon, speak to me.

“Akita, you awake?” she asked, ready to shake my tent to wake me up.

“Yeah, I’m up,” I answered, sitting up once more, putting my book back in my little backpack that Shannon gave me, folding the corner of the page I stopped on. After putting on my black rose jeans over my sweat pants, I unzipped the tent door and put on my shoes. Looking around, I saw that Max, Tristan, Jude, and others were already up and ready to go on today’s hike. After some morning stretches and some breakfast, we left with the tents put into the back of the trunks of the teacher’s cars. When I caught up to the front of the line, I found one of my favorite teachers, even though I never took one of her classes, Nini. When I came to her side, I gave her a gentle hug, making sure not to make her fall. I like the teachers at my school, A.S. #1. They all treat me so kindly; it makes me looking forward on coming to school every morning. Sara, Nini, Maggie, all of them. I also have friends, of course. Amber and her step-sisters Jordan and Victoria, Shalaidah, Gabby and her sister Maddy, Chris, and others. And three other friends from last year, Joy, Lisa, and D.P.A (short for Darian).

Few hours later, we all came to a beautiful lake. The water looked green and was crystal clear. It was a pretty site. Then, it started to rain. Everybody went to leave, which left me the only one to stare at the lake. When I realized that everyone left, it was too late.

~*~now; someone’s P.O.V~*~

Leaning on the wall of the cave near the mouth, I tried to catch my breath. To think that the enemies I once fought as Suichi Minamino have come back to kill me. All of them, all at once, striking when my guard was down. Suichi had me take over long ago, but I figured out that that was a mistake the hard way. Now, I can’t transform back into the human I’ve become so attached to, quite literally. I gasped, gripping onto the injury on my chest. I had many wounds on my body, but the one I hold hurts the most. Karasu did that one. Damn those trace-eye bombs! I looked out into the forest, smelling someone coming, feeling a damn powerful aura as well. Shit! I can’t stay here! But I’m too weak to run anywhere. Getting to my feet, I scrambled to the darkest part in the back of the cave, waiting for whoever was coming to leave.

~*~in the cave; my P.O.V~*~

Walking into the cave, I looked around. I let out the breath I was holding in. No bears. Good. Flopping down on the cave floor, I leaned against the wall, pulling my hood down. I was panting like crazy now. The gloves on my hands and my black rose jeans are soaked, making me feel colder that I already am. Good thing that I’m wearing my weatherproof coat or I could be quite sick after this trip, probably bedridden for a few days. And that wouldn’t be the best way to spend my weekend. As I sit there, a song comes to me. And when want to sing, I do it.

“Let’s go back, back to the beginning, back to when the earth, the sun, the stars, all alighted.
‘Cause perfect didn’t feel so perfect, trying to fit a square into a circle was no life.
I defy.
Let the rain fall down and wake my dreams, let it wash away my sanity.
‘Cause I want to feel the thunder, I want to scream.
Let the rain fall down, I’m coming clean.
I’m coming clean.
I’m shedding, shedding every color, trying to find a pigment of truth beneath my skin.
‘Cause different doesn’t feel so different and going out is that always staying in.
Feel the wind.
Let the rain fall down and wake my dreams, let it wash away my sanity.
‘Cause I want to feel the thunder, I want to scream.
Let the rain fall down, I’m coming clean.
Let the rain fall, let the rain fall, I’m coming.”

During this pause, I looked out into the rain. How ironic that the rain washed away my sanity. There was no thunder though. But did I care? I think not! I hated thunder anyway. Taking a deep breath, I continued to sing.

“Let the rain fall down and wake my dreams, let it wash away my sanity.
‘Cause I want to hear the thunder, I want to scream.
Let the rain fall down, I’m coming clean.
Oh, I coming clean, oh, I’m coming clean.
Let the rain fall, let the rain fall, let the rain fall, I’m coming clean.
Let the rain fall down.”

The song ended, leaving a smile on my face. But that smile disappeared when I heard someone gasping. Whirling around, I tried to find the source of the sound. It was coming from the back of the cave, where it was cloaked in shadow. Grabbing my walking stick, which I call my “Gandalf staff”, I readied myself for an attack. When nothing came after a few moments, I lowered my staff, got up, and walked to the back of the grotto. When I heard the resident of the cave shift away for me, I stopped, realizing that whoever it was is more scared of me than I of them. Upon opening my mouth to speak, there was a clash of thunder and a flash of lightning. Jumping at the sound, I ran to the person in the dark and practically knocked them down as I jumped on them, holding on to their chest for dear life, my Gandalf staff long forgotten. Now I knew that the gender of the person was male. But I didn’t care! Whimpering into his well-toned chest with my arms wrapping around his waist, I could feel his hand stroking the top of my head, almost seeming a bit hesitant on doing this soothing action. Calming down after a few moments, I managed to muster some courage to look up at the man. And what I saw would change my life.

He had long silver hair that just slightly touched his waist and golden eyes. He wore a white tunic with a black sleeveless shirt underneath and matching white pants, all of them bloodstained and ripped, showing some cuts. But what stood out the most was the silver fox ears perched on top of his head. Shifting my arms just slightly, I could feel a furry thing coming from behind the strange man. Looking behind him, I saw a bushy silver fox tail. Shifting my blue orbs from his tail back up to his golden eyes, I found myself practically speechless.

“W-who are you?” those were the only words I could say. My body was obviously in shock, not from fear, but from surprise.

He just looked back at me, fear shining in his fox-like eyes. Sitting up, I released my hold on him. When I moved a few inches away from him, he breathed a soft sigh of relief. Then, we both heard a growling sound. Looking over my shoulder, I tried to see if any bears were there. Nothing. Then, I thought of something that made me giggle. Turning back to the humanoid fox, I saw that he was holding his stomach and his face was a dark pinkish red color. With a big grin across my face, I slid my small backpack off my shoulders and unzipped it to show a green plastic box. Taking the box out, I opened it to show a peanut butter sandwich and some carrot sticks. Pulling out the sandwich, I tore it in half and offered one of the halves to the fox. He looked at the sandwich, then at me, then back to the sandwich.

“It’s not poisoned, if that’s what you’re thinking.” I said, trying to reassure him. All he did was raise an eyebrow, still not trusting me. “Look.” I added, rolling my eyes, taking a bite out of my half of the sandwich.

Reaching a hesitant hand out, he grabbed it, brought it to his mouth, and took a bite. After a while, he swallowed, all the while watching me. I, on the other hand, was eating my half like there’s nothing wrong. With a satisfied smile, the fox ate the rest of the sandwich in what seems like a few seconds, careful not to choke on every bite he took.

“See, I told you.” I replied to him, handing him a bottle of water, the cap already off. He gladly took the bottle, taking a couple of sips, making sure to leave some for me. When he was finished, he handed the bottle back to me. Smiling at him, I reached out for the water when it suddenly hit me. I didn’t know his name! Sure, I probably knew it, but it never hurt to ask.

Grabbing the bottle, drinking some while I was at it, I asked, “By the way, what’s your name?” His golden orbs widened at the sudden question, but then returned to their normal size. He opened his mouth to speak, but that’s when another clash of thunder decided to come crashing down, lightning illuminating the cave. I screamed after the thunder struck, holding my head in my hands. Then, I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around my whimpering form, one around my waist while the other was across my upper back, his hand on my head, stroking my hair. Crying into his chest, I smiled inwardly. At least he was less hesitant towards me, even though we just meet.

Hearing some odd sound, I looked up at the fox, my face a little red from crying. I could see his lips trembling and could hear air pass in and out of them. Was he trying to speak to me? He closed his mouth, having a frustrated expression on his face. Looking at the ground, a smile laced his lips. Taking the arm around my waist, he used his index finger to write something in the dirt. When finished, he withdrew his arm, putting back around my waist. I turned my head to see what he wrote. What I saw made my eyes widened and my jaw drop slightly, unable to believe that this was actually happening.

Youko Kurama.